Date: Mon, 28 Apr 97 11:40:16 EST
From: "NGLTF"
To: Multiple recipients of presslist - Sent by
Subject: The Real Role Models Are Standing Up
Contact:
Mark F. Johnson, Media Director
mfjohnson@ngltf.org
202/332-6483 x3314
pager 1-800/757-6476
2320 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
http://www.ngltf.org
**************************************************************
Capital Gains is a new monthly column that will discuss or give
commentary on national and state-level political events or provide a
behind-the-scene's look at social movements and trends. The column is
written by Kerry Lobel, Executive Director of the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force.
The Real Role Models Are Standing Up
As much of the nation anticipates the television episode when
everyone's favorite lesbian character, Ellen Morgan opens her closet
door on April 30. I continue to think about the bravery of hundreds
of gay men and lesbians in dozens of states who have stood firm and
proud for a long time. They have been "stars" of their state and local
movement for equal rights.
These activists have continued their hard work to resist an onslaught
of anti- gay bills introduced in state legislatures around the
country. With attacks ranging from bans on sodomy to bans on
same-gender marriage, the Right has once again forced us to put much
of our energy into defensive actions.
However, there is a ray of light out of the darkness. At the same time
that some state activists have been resisting a record number of
anti-gay bills, many have seen a record number of bills introduced
that would benefit the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered
communities.
While much of the legislation this year is a repeat of previous years,
new to the effort to both fight hostile measures and win measures
securing basic civil rights for gays is a newly formed network of
Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered (LGBT) statewide political groups.
The Federation of statewide groups was formed in November , 1996 at
the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Creating Change Conference
in a move to bolster efforts by individual state groups and
simultaneously create a more unified national strategy for securing
the rights of LGBT people. The Federation is being spearheaded with
the assistance of NGLTF.
The Federation of LGBT statewide groups marks a new level of
organizing and activism in the struggle for LGBT equality. I am proud
that NGLTF is playing such a central role in this historic unification
of our movement. Through conference calls by region and topic, the
distribution of talking points on a variety of subjects, and use of
our web page and electronic mailing list capabilities, NGLTF is able
to support state organizers as they do the important work of bringing
justice to our communities.
While the legislative season is not yet over, we look to the hundreds
of state activists around the country to be our real role models.
These individuals work ever day for a time when all of the Ellen
Morgans of the world can live in a free and affirming society.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is a progressive organization
that has supported grassroots organizing and pioneered in national
advocacy since 1973. Since its inception, NGLTF has been at the
forefront of virtually every major initiative for lesbian and gay
rights. In all its efforts, NGLTF helps to strengthen the gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender movement at the state level while
connecting these activities to a national vision for change.
-30-
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